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FROM The Republic Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
23 Jul 1953, Thu • Page 12
Obituary for Edward Hay Walker (Aged 89) -
Prominent County Architect Dies
Edward Hay Walker, 89, of Somerset, probably the most prominent architect in Somerset County's history, died at his home Sunday following a brief illness.
Mr. Walker was a son of Charles and Roseann Hay Walker and was born a few miles east of Somerset on April 7, 1864. Following his education in the schools of Somerset, he spent some time as a musician with traveling minstrel shows. Later he became an aprentice to a carpenter in Springfield, Ohio and learned the carpentry trade. After he left Springfield, he became a building superintendent in Chicago and at night studied architecture and drafting in trade schools and worked as a draftsman later in several offices in Chicago.
In 1892, Mr. Walker returned to Somerset and built a home.
From 1892 until 1898 he was a contractor in Wilmerding, Turtle Creek and Thurmond, W. Va. He built the first public school and business block in Turtle Creek. In 1898 he opened his offices in Somerset.
In 1927, he admitted to full partnership his nephew, Walker Mong, and changed the name of the firm to Walker and Mong.
In addition to his building, Mr Walker was in partnership with his brother, W. F. Walker, during the 1880-1900 period, at which time they designed and constructed many of the old covered, wooden bridges and later many steel bridges.
Among the buildings designed and constructed by Mr. Walker were the Opera House in Somerset (now occupied by the Walters Tire Service), first Christian Church and Grace Evangelical Church, Somerset; Catholic Church, Boswell, the Patriot school and high school, Somerset; schools at Cairnbrook, Central City, Kantner, Confluence and elsewhere; banks at Hooversville, Stoystown and Indian Head and remodeling of banks in Somerset.
Many of the residences in Somerset were designed by Mr. Walker including the following: the D. B Zimmerman mansion. George R Scull residence, and the Gurzenda residence. He also designed the Somerset County Memorial Park memorial. The last building with which he was actively associated was the new Village Theatre at Salisbury.
It is believed that at his death he was one of the oldest working architects in the state and also had one of the oldest firms.
Mr. Walker was a life-long member of Somerset Trinity Lutheran church. He was not married and is survived by a sister, Mrs. Lulu Jeanette Walker Mong, of Somer and Goldsboro, N. C.
Funeral services were conducted at the Walter S. Hoffman Funeral Home in Somerset by the Rev. Dr. __ Hess Wagner on Tuesday.
wetzupdoc Member Photo
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CLIPPED FROM The Republic
Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
23 Jul 1953, Thu • Page 12
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